Saylorville Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Saylorville Lake
image_lake = USACE Saylorville Lake and Dam.jpg
caption_lake = Saylorville Dam and Lake on the Des Moines River. View is to the northeast
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Polk County, Iowa
coords = Coord|41|43|37|N|93|41|59|W|type:waterbody_region:US|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Des Moines River
outflow = Des Moines River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = convert|5950|acre|km2|0
max.: convert|16700|acre|km2|0
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|836|ft|m|0|abbr=on
islands =
cities =

Saylorville Lake is a man-made reservoir on the Des Moines River in Iowa. It is located convert|11|mi|km|0 upstream from the city of Des Moines, and convert|214|mi|km|0 from the mouth of the Des Moines River at the Mississippi River. It was constructed as part of a flood control system for the Des Moines River as well as to aid in controlling flood crests on the Mississippi, of which the Des Moines is a tributary.

At its normal level of convert|836|ft|m|0 above sea level, Saylorville Lake covers an area of convert|5950|acre|km2|0 or convert|9.3|sqmi|km2|1 and reaches some convert|17|mi|km|0 upstream. At full flood stage the lake can reach convert|16700|acre|km2|0 or convert|26.1|sqmi|km2|1 and reach convert|54|mi|km|0 long. At this point any further flow into the lake is channelled over an emergency spillway to the west of the main dam structure. The record high stage for the reservoir was convert|892.03|ft|m|2 above sea level set on July 11, 1993 during the Great Flood of 1993.

Construction of the Saylorville Dam was authorized by Congress in 1958. Excavation began at the site in July 1965, becoming fully operational in September 1977. The dam itself is convert|6750|ft|m|0 long, convert|105|ft|m|0 tall, and convert|44|ft|m|0 wide at the top.

The lake is utilized for many recreational activities in the central Iowa area as well, as there is a large state park infrastructure surrounding the area of the lake, notably Jester Park and Big Creek State Park. Boating and swimming are very popular here, as are camping, deer and game bird hunting, fishing, hiking, biking and disc golf. Coast Guard Auxiliary [http://www.flotilla4.org Flotilla 4] provides boating safety education and free vessel safety checks to boaters in the area.

External links

* [http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Saylorville/index.cfm Corps of Engineers' Saylorville site]
* [http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/stationinfo2.cfm?sid=SAYI4&fid=SAYI4&dt=S Mississippi Valley river levels]
*PDF| [http://te-webserver.cce.iastate.edu/research/lutz/dmrwqn/cp35%20annual/annual_cp35_online.pdf Water Quality Studies — Red Rock and Saylorville Reservoirs] |4.01 MiB
* [http://www.flotilla4.org Local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 4]